Cassandra Gifford used the skills she developed as a member of the Eufaula FFA Chapter’s tractor restoration team for a very special personal project: She restored a 1952 Ford 8N tractor, painted it pink and named it “Hope.” Cassandra designed Hope to raise awareness of breast cancer, and together they are educating people about the disease and giving breast cancer survivors hope for a second chance in life.

This interview first aired on the August 22, 2015 “FFA Today” show on Rural Radio SiriusXM Channel 147.

Joshua Remington, executive director of the Iowa FFA Foundation, says he is privileged to work with FFA supporters in Iowa. The foundation’s new fundraising initiative takes its name from the FFA Creed, and the goal is to retire the remaining debt on the FFA Enrichment Center, a unique multipurpose conference, training and educational facility. The “I Believe” Campaign will ensure the sustainability of the organization for years to come.

This interview first aired on the August 22, 2015 “FFA Today” show on Rural Radio SiriusXM Channel 147.

The Michigan state FFA officer team spent three days in southeast Michigan on a business and industry tour. To better understand the diversity of agriculture in their state, the officers visited the Michigan Milk Producers Association, Hantz Woodlands, Wholesale Produce Terminal and Rocky Produce Company, Nicholson Shipping Terminal, Detroit’s Eastern Market, Better Made Snack Foods, Post Gardens Greenhouses, Alber Orchard and Cider Mill, Fusilier Family Farms and Horning Farms. What a wonderful learning opportunity!

This interview first aired on the August 22, 2015 “FFA Today” show on Rural Radio SiriusXM Channel 147.

Caleb Gustin, 2014-15 National FFA Western Region Vice President, visits with Wilson Stewart, a member of the Casper FFA Chapter at Natrona County High School in Wyoming. Wilson talks about his family’s long tradition in FFA and at the Wyoming FFA Leadership Camp, where Wilson served as camp president.

The Wyoming FFA Leadership Camp was founded in 1978 by Al Snyder, a former Wyoming state FFA officer. Listen to an earlier “FFA Today” interview with Dr. Snyder here.

This interview first aired on the August 15, 2015 “FFA Today” show on Rural Radio SiriusXM Channel 147.

Steve Lorenz, FFA advisor at Hudson’s Bay High School in Washington, introduces us to his FFA chapter and his school. Members of the Hudson’s Bay FFA Chapter used a Living to Serve: Environmental Grant from the National FFA Organization to develop a process to remediate their school’s paper waste. They grew mushrooms on the remediated paper, and the success of this project led to their being named a winner in the Samsung Solve For Tomorrow contest, for which they received a $120,000 technology grant to continue their work.

This interview first aired on the August 15, 2015 “FFA Today” show on Rural Radio SiriusXM Channel 147.

Garrett Yerigan, a former member of the Pryor FFA Chapter in Oklahoma, is a rodeo announcer and the owner of Lightning G Productions. He grew up with rodeo (both of his parents competed) and worked his first rodeo as an announcer at age 12. Garrett says participating in public speaking and keeping record books in FFA provided good training for his career, and he encourages current FFA members to “stick with it,” take every opportunity and “enjoy the ride.”

This interview first aired on the August 8, 2015 “FFA Today” show on Rural Radio SiriusXM Channel 80.

2014-15 National FFA Western Region Vice President Caleb Gustin talks with Lance Widner, a student at New Mexico State University. Lance is following a family tradition by pursuing a career in agricultural education, and as he prepares for student teaching in Cliff, N.M., he says his goal is to make the next generation of students better than he is.

This interview first aired on the August 8, 2015 “FFA Today” show on Rural Radio SiriusXM Channel 80.

Lakeside Lutheran FFA Chapter is the first FFA chapter at a private parochial school in Wisconsin, and just the 12th in the country. All Lakeside Lutheran High School students with an interest in agriculture are invited to join the chapter to expand their knowledge and explore opportunities through FFA.

This interview first aired on the August 8, 2015 “FFA Today” show on Rural Radio SiriusXM Channel 80.

Mandy Hazlett, senior event manager at the National FFA Organization, gives an update on planning for the 2015 National FFA Convention & Expo, Oct. 28─31. She explains that this year’s convention theme – “Amplify, Boost Your Impact” – conveys what FFA members accomplish year-round, through CDEs and SAEs, chapter activities, competitions, community service and other projects.

This interview first aired on the August 8, 2015 “FFA Today” show on Rural Radio SiriusXM Channel 80.